‘My fans can drool but can’t touch’

Since childhood, Blessing Akhere had always desired to sing. Known in music circle as Akhere, the Economics graduate and former model who currently works in the aviation sector, is making her mark in the music industry. Akhere, who recently recorded a song, ‘On My Mind’, speaks with JOE AGBRO JR about growing up, the struggles of the industry and her aspiration. Excerpts

How did music start for you?

Music is my passion. I fell in love with music very early in life. And I used to remember making sounds, very beautiful sounds at age five. Even as young as I was, I was aware that I loved music and I could make very beautiful sounds. As a child, I longed to be part of the choir, the senior choir actually. But of course, you have to start from the children’s choir.

In which church?

Brotherhood of the Star and Cross. And I had a very good choir master who was able to help me. Initially, I started as an alto singer. I was fantastic as an alto singer but I don’t know what happened. One day, we were doing a choir practice and rehearsal and I was switched. They switched me from alto to treble and that was the beginning. I was like, ‘wonderful’ is an understatement when it comes to singing the soprano. From there, as I grew older, I started to write songs. I migrated to writing secular songs. I wrote my first eight songs while I was still in the university. I was able to come up with a complete album. And by the time I finished university, as much as I loved music, music wasn’t appreciated then. That was around 2005 because I finished university around 2008. So, I just thought the sensible thing to do at that point is to just get a monthly job. That’s how I found myself flying.

The Nigerian music industry is a very competitive. What are you bringing to carve a niche for yourself?

Trying to be unique in my own way. I don’t want to be someone else. I just want to be me. And I believe the sky is big enough for everyone. We might probably not get there at the same time but as long as there is life, then I’m still pushing.

One of your songs, ‘Irin Ise’ (Man of Steel) trended not long ago. What was the motivation for the song?

There is a story behind it. Initially, my past relationship actually gave birth to that song. At the point I wrote this song, the relationship meant so much to me. That sanity and happiness and contentment you want in a relationship was there. And I never imagined it was ever going to end but that’s life for you. You have to give it your best shot which is what I did. The love around the relationship at that point led to that song.

So, are you back to being single?

Do I have to talk about that? I don’t think I want to talk about that. Anyone who comes close would get to know if I am single or off the market eventually.

You’re a beautiful lady and some men would be attracted to you. How has the interest in you from the opposite sex been like?

Well, I get that a lot. I handle them as they come.

Can you share an experience?

To a large extent, I think they’ve been able to behave themselves.

So, what has a fan really done to you that you feel ‘this is too outrageous’?

Like I said, I have not really had any terrible experience. They’re able to keep their hands to themselves even if they drool which is fine by me. They can look and drool but can’t touch. To a large extent, they are well-behaved.

So, no one has attempted to touch?

No one has tried to touch indecently.

When we look at the music sector, there is a way females are portrayed as sex symbols, especially in music videos. How do you see that trend?

Well, I think everybody has the right to dress the way they want to even though there is a saying that says ‘dress the way you want to be addressed.’ At the end of the day, I’m sure if they do that for a video, probably the job warrants them at that point because that is the contract they have signed to do that way. But it’s not enough for anyone to want to look at them as sex objects. I think it has to do with one’s perspective about life. I have my own limits when it comes to dress sense. I can’t go further beyond a particular limit.

But for anyone who feels free to bare it all, it’s not enough licence for anyone to think she’s cheap. And the man should also have control. So, don’t blame it on the girl because she is exposed dress-wise, then you think you can lunge yourself on her indecently. The girl also has a right to get down with whoever she wants to get down with. So, it just has to do with individual perspective about life. We are responsible for our actions.

How do you combine your work and music?

It’s tough because flying alone drains you. So, I still don’t know how I have been able to combine flying with music because music on its own when I was doing fulltime music, takes a lot of my time. And when I ask myself how I have been able to cope, the only answer is my passion for music. Even when I want to give up, it’s not something I can easily give away. I’ve tried keeping away from it but it keeps on coming back.

How do you relax?

Once in a while, I like to go dancing. It helps relieve my stress. But most of the time, I don’t even have that time to go dancing as often as I want. What I do is I always have my earpiece with me. When it blasts my head for a while, it’s more like it massages my brain and makes me calm down. When I get home, I still have it on the speaker. So, when the music is playing, I’m moving around at my pace doing things. The only time I turn off the music is when I want to pray and want to go to bed.

How do you stay athletic and beautiful?

I try to exercise on my own. I’ve never been to the gym. Whatever exercise I do, I do it within the four walls of my room.

How about relationships?

Right now, I’m busy with myself.

So, no space for any man?

When the right man comes along.

So, what are the criteria for the right man?

Of course, he has to be God-fearing. He needs to love me. I don’t want a Master-Slave relationship. Someone I can trust and find sanity and happiness with. If he is good-looking, it’s an added plus. But he has to be very presentable. And he should be able to speak good English.